Today Colorado became the first state in the union to allow retail recreational marijuana sales.

The Internet is awash with stories documenting a moment that many may look back on as a watershed.

I seek here to address what many have pondered: What impact, if any, will Colorado's legalization have on organized crime in Mexico?

Mexico has suffered from more than 100,000 drug related deaths since 2006. While the pace of homicides appears to be slowing, according to official government statistics, kidnappings and cases of extortion are rising.

Could legalization help to reduce drug-related violence in Mexico? Or have the cartels diversified too far into other drugs and criminal activities for it to matter?